It's got to be difficult to be a right-wing comedian. The problem is that the comedy and opinion are already to mixed up.
I mean... is there really any doubt that Anne Coulter is a comedian (a joker anyway)? But on the right... they take her seriously! How are you supposed to make people laugh when people think your comedy is truthful commentary?!
robbcoffee: It's got to be difficult to be a right-wing comedian.
Someone once said that for a joke to be funny it has to have an element of truth in it somewhere. Right wing perspectives are just too skewed and spun and not truthy enough to be funny as jokes, other than unintentionally, as grist for the Stewart/Colbert mill.
michelesda: Someone once said that for a joke to be funny
There is conservative humor; it just ain't funny. (Recall "Barack the Magic Negro"?)
If conservative humor means "making fun of the Left," a few folks have been able to do it. Generally, though, they weren't heavy-handed or bigoted about it. Mad Magazine could tweak Left and Right equally, and I recall the late Lord Buckley doing a Krushchev who was freaking out because he couldn't scare the west with the bomb. The punch line: "We give back Poland, see what happens."
They used to say feminists had no sense of humor. If you're mean-spirited and out for blood, that doesn't leave much room for humor, regardless of ideology.
ShinjiIkari: There is conservative humor; it just ain't funny. (Recall "Barack
Faux News' "Half Hour Comedy Hour" was painfully unfunny. Everyone thinks Jon Stewart only makes fun of conservatives, but he's really making fun of hypocrisy, stupidity, and the horrible job done by the "professional" news teams.
Much of the foundation of satire is poking fun at authority. Conservatives revere authority. That's why conservatives don't get satire and can't do satire. Their "comedy" is based on hatred of anyone they see as different or disagreeing. Liberals distrust authority, which is why satire comes naturally to lefties.
I've often heard conservatives complain that right-wing humour is never gets a chance, because of the "liberal media". But frankly, I've never understood what was meant by "right-wing humour".
The only thing that comes to mind is that kind of mild, inoffensive, Christian-based type of humour that is forgivable in your grandfather, but is really boring to watch. Or perhaps its jokes about disadvantaged people and welfare divas. Or maybe its pot-shots at the Left-wing (which I suppose could be funny).
I don't know. I know plenty of conservatives with a sense of humour in the day-to-day world, but stand up comedy? It strikes me that to be edgy, you have to be mean.
Cye: I've often heard conservatives complain that right-wing humour is never
Kelsey a republican? Didn't know that.
I guess good actors can feign intelligence, but not neccessarily acquire it.
Anyway is he not a comedy actor rather than a stand-up man? The distinction is significant.
HarkaDahl: Kelsey a republican? Didn't know that. I guess good actors
Not only is he a (great) comic actor rather than a comedian, but his career has really faltered since the death of David Lloyd, who wrote some of the best material for Frasier and a host of other shows.
GeeBee: Not only is he a (great) comic actor rather than
I guess it's because right-wingers lack compassion and empathy, which are hallmarks of the really great comics.
Why is Conan always making fun of La Bamba? Because he loves the guy. You can see that.
On the other hand, I would like to point out a couple of exceptions. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jay Leno. Which just goes to prove that there are no absolute rules in comedy.
gurukalehuru: I guess it's because right-wingers lack compassion and empathy, which
Of course, one defining characteristic that differentiates conservatives and liberals is that conservatives can have heaps of compassion and empathy for people who they believe are "like them" or part of their perceived social-political-religious-family "in group"; whereas for liberals, compassion and empathy extend far beyond those boundaries.
esfranklin: Of course, one defining characteristic that differentiates conservatives and liberals
That's actually an old line/proverb involving a Texan's description of (usually) a politician who is out of his league.
Goes something like: "He's a post turtle."
"Huh?"
"You know he didn't get up there himself, he can't get down, he doesn't know what to do now that he's there, and you just end up wondering about the dumb[...] who put him up there."
splinky: That's actually an old line/proverb involving a Texan's description of
When they put forth their ideas, everyone laughs at them.
When the try to be funny it's a mixture of dumb laughter supplied by the base, and a look of horror from those with brain function.
rigmoten: The right wing is an accidental comedy act. When they
I mean... is there really any doubt that Anne Coulter is a comedian (a joker anyway)? But on the right... they take her seriously! How are you supposed to make people laugh when people think your comedy is truthful commentary?!
If conservative humor means "making fun of the Left," a few folks have been able to do it. Generally, though, they weren't heavy-handed or bigoted about it. Mad Magazine could tweak Left and Right equally, and I recall the late Lord Buckley doing a Krushchev who was freaking out because he couldn't scare the west with the bomb. The punch line: "We give back Poland, see what happens."
They used to say feminists had no sense of humor. If you're mean-spirited and out for blood, that doesn't leave much room for humor, regardless of ideology.
Much of the foundation of satire is poking fun at authority. Conservatives revere authority. That's why conservatives don't get satire and can't do satire. Their "comedy" is based on hatred of anyone they see as different or disagreeing. Liberals distrust authority, which is why satire comes naturally to lefties.
The only thing that comes to mind is that kind of mild, inoffensive, Christian-based type of humour that is forgivable in your grandfather, but is really boring to watch. Or perhaps its jokes about disadvantaged people and welfare divas. Or maybe its pot-shots at the Left-wing (which I suppose could be funny).
I don't know. I know plenty of conservatives with a sense of humour in the day-to-day world, but stand up comedy? It strikes me that to be edgy, you have to be mean.
Kelsey Grammer.
He is very funny and is a lifelong Republican.
Is time we started seeing that NOT ALL Rs are bad, just as not all Ds are good.
We are all Species:Human, beneath....
I guess good actors can feign intelligence, but not neccessarily acquire it.
Anyway is he not a comedy actor rather than a stand-up man? The distinction is significant.
Why is Conan always making fun of La Bamba? Because he loves the guy. You can see that.
On the other hand, I would like to point out a couple of exceptions. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jay Leno. Which just goes to prove that there are no absolute rules in comedy.
There are plenty of "right-wingers" who have compassion and empathy, they're just not in politics.
Goes something like: "He's a post turtle."
"Huh?"
"You know he didn't get up there himself, he can't get down, he doesn't know what to do now that he's there, and you just end up wondering about the dumb[...] who put him up there."
$arah/Fabio 2012!
Health care? We don't need no stinkin' health care- we need prayer in skool.
When they put forth their ideas, everyone laughs at them.
When the try to be funny it's a mixture of dumb laughter supplied by the base, and a look of horror from those with brain function.